severed tranquility {astrid oneshot}

[D6f Carmen Cantelou [aza]]

astrid lachance

You cannot say no to life,
You have to fight back and beat the odds

The sun was appearing from between the vast green pastures, spreading it's light across the whole of the orchard.  I felt the rays touch me.  They were bright, like usual, but on this chilly morn, they felt different.  Their touch is normally so comforting and relaxing, transporting me into a world with lapping shores and beaches with luscious golden sands.  Today, they were cold.  My arms felt like they had been struck by ice, cold to the touch.  It made me feel dangerous, but it made me feel happy.


The light cast shadows of the trees onto the dirty floor.  The shaded images were so clear and defined.  I could see each leaf in all its glory and each and every fruit dangling so lifelessly from the thin and brittle branches.  I ran a hand through my hair, a passionate smile wiped across my face as I did so.  The orchard was never something I'd imagined I'd like, but today it gave me a warm welcome like an old friend.  I felt like pointlessly standing between the trees was my purpose and my home.


As I picked up my wicker basket with twigs protruding out from it, I reached for my first pick of the day.  It was earlier and only a few people were here.  The first fruit I picked was so tender.  The crimson skin which was wrapped so elegantly around the fleshy inner was glistening in the cold light.  I stopped for a moment and admired it - I'd never seen such a flawless fruit in all my time working here.  Perhaps everyone else had got them before me, or maybe I was too entangled in my work to take notice.  Either way, I was glad I'd come across one now.


I could hear the gentle sounds of footsteps coming towards me.  I turned around playfully, to see it was an older man.  He gave me a friendly smile as he passed me which I returned.  He had brassy blonde hair which sat on top of his fair skin with ease.  The sides were tucked behind his average ears, which the top was pushed back and flattened with some water.  Everyone was so kind to one another here.  I felt like our district was a place of harmony and love - people cherished each other and people gave others reasons to be thankful.  No matter what would ever happen, we'd all have each other.


My world of peacefulness and tranquility was suddenly flooded by an ocean of distant whispers and the pitter-patter of people's feet tapping against the murky brown floor.  I sighed.  I knew that it wouldn't last long.  After all, I wasn't the only one who had to work in between these trees.  I closed my eyes for a second as I picked another from the tree.  I could feel hundreds of thousands of pins being stuck into my body, everywhere, from every angle.  The feeling was nice and soothing, but upon opening my eyes, they immediately disappeared.  The once empty stretch of land in front of me was now filled with people of all ages chatting and gossiping with one another, ripping the apples from the tree with force and brutality. 


Carefully, I placed another one of my fruits into the basket.  The once chilly breeze I was immersed in was now entwined with the hustle and bustle of the people.  I continued to pick from the trees with my dainty hands and fingers, holding the fruits with a delicate tone.   Trees all around me that earlier had hundreds of vibrantly colored apples dangling, were now almost naked and only had their sprinkling of leaves to cover them.  I too had almost finished my own tree and my basket was almost full.  


It contained an array of unique apples, each one with its own individual glint and difference.  Some were bruised, others: scratched.  Upon further inspection of my collection, I'd noticed that a few were perfect. I'd pick one up and place it into my pocket to take home.  My mother has always loved the sweet taste of a flawless apple.  If she had the right ingredients she'd make a pie for us all to share, but those beautiful occasions were rare.  Those beautiful occasions make up some of my treasured memories.


As the sun reached its peak in the sky, I began to head back to my family's shack.  The lonely walk was something I loved, I could admire the district and nature around us silently.  I could look up and see the little birds fly over my head and into a towering tree, I could peer over a fence to see people my parent's age hard at work and I could lose myself in the air of the place I called home.


As I welcomed myself into my home, the peaceful nature that I had when my day started was gone.  Now, I was surrounded by a world of strong noise and a long list of work and chores which needed to be completed.